Upgrading my ICS M4A1

[dpvu]

I'm running a stock ICS M4A1 and I'm looking to upgrade it for the outdoor season. I've got an M120 spring but I'm worried that if I only replace the spring I could wreck the stock gears/gearbox. Will the stock gears and gearbox be able to withstand an M120 spring? I've only got a stock piston right now too which I'm a bit concerned about but those aren't terribly hard to replace and aren't too expensive. I'm more worried about the gears and gearbox (I've hear of people's gearboxes breaking on M120 springs). I'm thinking I'll need new shims and bushings?

[ShelledPants]

Metal Bushings, a good shimjob, and modest relubing: You should be fine with an M120.

[mcguyver]

When was your gun made? If it's 2006-current, it should have steel bushings as well as the Turbo 3000 motor.

ICS sells the MA-56 upper receiver kit which comes with an M120 spring and silent head set, so you can keep the stock upper for CQB, but have an outdoor gun shooting about 405 fps or so. but you need a good battery (2000 mah+ sub-C) to run that gun with the stock gear ratio.

[dpvu]

I'm actually not sure (I got it second-hand). Is there any way to check? I'm pretty sure it's 2006.

EDIT: I just checked and it might be a 2005. According to the first owner he got it "about" 3 years ago.

[mcguyver]

Colt trades plus Turbo 3000 motor = 2006.

Pull your grip and look at the motor, that will tell you right away.

[dpvu]

Yeah, I just checked, it says ICS Turbo 2000. So should I upgrade that too?

[monkey530]

Check bushings, if it is plastic it is V1 if it is metal(most likely copper if I remember correctly) it is V2. Swap the motor, T2000 will have trouble with a M120. The stock gears can handle up to M140 but most set the limit at M130. Stock piston should hold up fine. Just make sure you have a good air seal with piston/cylinder assembly. My V2 ICS had problems with it.

[HaZarD SFD]

Black body ICS have the Turbo 3000. Grey body ICS have Turbo 2000.

The stock gears in the Grey body ones are just fine.. I have mine running 400 and 350 in my other upper.. They have never failed me. I will however be getting a 3000 motor as they are alot quieter.

[dpvu]

I went with a EG1000 because I hear it'll do the job and airsoftparts.ca had it in stock. Thanks for all the help guys!

[six4]

Originally Posted by dpvu

I went with a EG1000 because I hear it'll do the job and airsoftparts.ca had it in stock. Thanks for all the help guys!

dont forget to upgrade your bushings from the nylon ones to metal ones. as posted earlier a good shim job is recommended. here is a list of what my 2005 ics m16 a3 has been upgraded with and current fps ( chronoed ) is 390 with below set up.

- metal bushings ( changed 3 months into ownership )
- stock gears
- tm eg700 motor
- to date i have had 3 re-shim jobs done
- madbull m110 spring ( blue )
- modify stainless steel cylinder head
- modify polycarbonate bearing piston head
- bearing spring guide
- polycarbonate tm piston ( just broke the stock one 3 weeks ago )

hope that helps.

[dpvu]

Thanks six4. I also ordered a set of Systema bushings, deep fire shims (both metal) and G&P gear grease set. I'll post updates Friday when I get everything.

[Renegade)]

My oh so fun experience with an ICS was quite a challenge.. I had the same model you did. It is one of the pickiest things to shim, so make sure you take your time and get it perfect, not just with gear play and smooth rotations, but with motor allignment as well. If you have any problems with semi auto shooting full, I have a fix for that as well I discovered. Just involves modifications to the selector plate and cut off lever.

My advice for upgrading the ICS, keep it VERY minimal, spring good, get a bearing spring guide as well. Bushings, shims, large battery, maybe tightbore.. Less you do, the less issues that will occur.

[dpvu]

Originally Posted by Renegade)

My oh so fun experience with an ICS was quite a challenge.. I had the same model you did. It is one of the pickiest things to shim, so make sure you take your time and get it perfect, not just with gear play and smooth rotations, but with motor allignment as well. If you have any problems with semi auto shooting full, I have a fix for that as well I discovered. Just involves modifications to the selector plate and cut off lever.

My advice for upgrading the ICS, keep it VERY minimal, spring good, get a bearing spring guide as well. Bushings, shims, large battery, maybe tightbore.. Less you do, the less issues that will occur.

haha... so true I'm sure. I'm just planning to stick to the motor, shims, bearings, and spring for now. If that holds it'll get me the performance I want and I'll be happy.

I do have issues with semi shooting in full actually. See my thread here: http://airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=57694

EDIT: You actually posted the solution there, I've just never cracked the mechbox open to try it.

[Renegade)]

Oh haha, no kidding, well then I wont have to retype it! Just let me know whenever you get at it if you run into issues. ICS gearboxes are really easy once you get to know them, jsut go slow and keep track of everything untill you can disasemble and reasemble blindfolded.

As for EG1000 and M120 on stock gears, dont be suprised if its noisy as hell, mine sure was, and I just ran a 1000 on a M110.

[monkey530]

If you replace your T2000 remember to take the pinion off your new motor and put the T2000 Pinion on the new motor. The reason is that the bevel gear and pinion gear are unique to that particular ICS Ver. 1 and 2.